Display integrity system for ica monitoring and annunciation for certified aeronautical applications running on a commercial device

ABSTRACT

A display integrity system for use in a mounting adapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on an aircraft is disclosed. The display integrity system includes a transparent surface configured to overlay the display surface of a PED when the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter. The transparent surface includes one or more regions embedded with one or more coating layers that when activated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem with an image displayed on the PED. The display integrity system further includes a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter and configured to provide light in the select excitation wavelength when activated to illuminate the transparent surface and an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter and configured to capture an image of the PED display for transmission to a server for integrity checking.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/595,623 filed Dec. 7, 2017. This application incorporates theprovisional application into the present application by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to display systems, and moreparticularly relates to display systems for displaying criticalinformation on uncertified displays.

BACKGROUND

In many safety critical and/or regulated industries, such as avionics,maritime, rail, medical devices, nuclear, and others, display systemsthat display mission critical information may need to be certified thatthey can provide adequate integrity, continuity, and availability (ICA)for the mission critical information to be displayed thereon. Thecertification process may be costly and time-consuming and, therefore,may deter the implementation of new applications, such as newapplications that use personal electronic devices (PEDs) to displaymission critical information.

In the avionics industry, low-cost PEDs, such as tablet computers andsmartphones, are being used for non-critical applications, such ascharts and maps applications and weight and balance calculators.Operators may also want to have the freedom to display aeronauticalinformation, such as airport moving maps, air traffic (Cockpit Displayof Traffic Information or CDTI), advanced weather radar information, andothers, on tablet computers instead of having to make costlymodifications and upgrades to their existing avionics displays.Long-standing regulatory policy prohibits the display of criticalaeronautical information during flight on uncertified displays becauseadequate integrity, continuity, and availability (ICA) cannot beassured.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a certifiable system fordisplaying critical information on uncertified displays or displays notapproved for the display of data requiring high ICA. Furthermore, otherdesirable features and characteristics will become apparent from thesubsequent detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

SUMMARY

Systems and method are provided for allowing the use of uncertifieddisplays to display mission critical information. In one embodiment, adisplay integrity system for use in a mounting adapter configured tomount a personal electronic device (PED) on an aircraft is disclosed.The display integrity system includes a transparent surface configuredto overlay the display surface of a PED when the PED is mounted in themounting adapter wherein the transparent surface has a transmittancethat is sufficient to allow the PED display to be visible in lightingconditions on a flight deck. The transparent surface includes one ormore regions embedded with one or more coating layers that whenactivated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emitvisible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem with an imagedisplayed on the PED display. The display integrity system furtherincludes a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter and configuredto provide light in the select excitation wavelength when activated toilluminate the transparent surface, and an imaging device mounted in themounting adapter and configured to capture an image of the PED displayfor transmission to a server that transmitted data for display on thePED display for performing an integrity check of the displayed data andfor activating the lighting source when a problem is detected with theimage of the PED display.

In another embodiment, a method of providing a display integrity systemin a mounting adapter configured to mount a personal electronic device(PED) on an aircraft is described. The method includes overlaying thedisplay surface of a PED display with a transparent surface when the PEDis mounted in the mounting adapter wherein the transparent surface has atransmittance that is sufficient to allow the PED display to be visiblein lighting conditions on a flight deck. The transparent surfaceincludes one or more regions embedded with one or more coating layersthat when activated with a select excitation wavelength are configuredto emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem withan image displayed on the PED display. The method further includescapturing, using an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter, animage of the PED display for transmission to a server that transmitteddata for display on the PED display for performing an integrity check ofthe displayed data and for causing the annunciation of a message when aproblem is detected with the image of the PED display. The methodfurther includes receiving a message from the server to annunciate amessage indicating a problem with the image displayed on the PEDdisplay, activating a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter toprovide light in a select excitation wavelength responsive to receipt ofthe message, illuminating at least a portion of the transparent surfacewith the light in the select excitation wavelength from the lightingsource, activating a coating layer in the illuminated portion of thetransparent surface with the light in the select excitation wavelengthto emit visible light, and displaying predetermined symbology from thevisible light from the activated coating layer to annunciate the messageindicating a problem with the image displayed on the PED display.

In another embodiment, a display integrity system for use in a mountingadapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on anaircraft is described. The display integrity system includes atransparent surface overlaid on the PED display wherein the transparentsurface has a transmittance when inactive that is sufficient to allowthe PED display to be visible in lighting conditions on a flight deckand is configured to allow touchscreen gestures on the PED display. Thetransparent surface includes one or more regions embedded with one ormore coating layers of fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles that whenactivated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emitvisible light with a select spectrum wherein the one or more regions areconfigured to display predetermined symbology to annunciate the loss ofintegrity and availability when activated. The display integrity systemfurther includes an LED (light emitting diode) housed in the mountingadapter and configured to provide light in the excitation wavelength, alight guiding diffuser housed in the mounting adapter and configured tocollect the light emitted by the LED, a direction turning optic attachedto the mounting adapter and configured to direct the collected light touniformly illuminate the transparent surface, and an imaging devicemounted in the mounting adapter and configured to capture an image ofthe PED display for transmission to a server that transmitted data fordisplay on the PED display for performing an integrity check of thedisplayed data and for activating the lighting source when a problem isdetected with the image of the PED display.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will becomeapparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appendedclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and thepreceding background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an example display system in anaircraft that allows uncertified display systems such as commercial PEDsto meet typical avionics requirements for the monitoring of ICA, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example data integrity module ina server in an aircraft that allows the display of critical aeronauticalinformation on an aircraft display that is not certified for displayingcritical aeronautical information, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting a simplified perspective view of anexample PED mounting device, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an example adapter controller in anadapter for allowing the display of critical aeronautical information onan aircraft display that is not certified for displaying criticalaeronautical information, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting a perspective view of an example displayintegrity system configured for use in a mounting adapter to facilitatemonitoring a PED display that displays mission critical information andannunciating a message indicating a problem with the display when aproblem is detected, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6A is a diagram depicting a plan view of an example transparentsurface (or screen), in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6B is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of the exampletransparent surface, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 7A is a block diagram depicting an example lighting system and across-sectional view of an example transparent screen in an exampledisplay integrity system, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 7B is a diagram depicting a perspective view of another examplelighting system that may be used in an example display integrity system,in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an example imaging device in anexample display integrity system mounted to an example mounting adaptervia a mounting post, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9A is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen with overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coatings, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9B is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen with non-overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coatings,in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9C is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen with a single fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coating, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9D is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen with three overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticlecoatings, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 10A is a diagram depicting a plan view of a transparent screen witha uniformly coated, fluorescent emitting nanoparticle layer embedded inthe transparent screen, in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 10B is a diagram depicting a plan view of a transparent screen witha patterned, fluorescent emitting nanoparticle layer embedded in thetransparent screen, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the application and uses. References toaeronautical and/or aviation specific terms such as but not limited to“cockpit”, “flight deck”, “certification”, or “aircraft” are forsimplifying the description and are not intended to limit theapplication and uses to the aviation or aeronautical industry.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background,summary, or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term“module” refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic controlcomponent, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or inany combination, including without limitation: application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate-array (FPGA), anelectronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memorythat executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinationallogic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide thedescribed functionality.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein in termsof functional and/or logical block components and various processingsteps. It should be appreciated that such block components may berealized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware componentsconfigured to perform the specified functions. For example, anembodiment of the present disclosure may employ various integratedcircuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carryout a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure maybe practiced in conjunction with any number of systems, and that thesystems described herein are merely exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to signalprocessing, data transmission, signaling, control, and other functionalaspects of the systems (and the individual operating components of thesystems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent example functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Apparatus, systems, methods, techniques and articles are described forproviding assurance that an uncertified display, such as a display on apersonal electronic device (PED) (e.g., a tablet computer, a smartphone,or some other device), that is used to display mission critical data(e.g., critical aeronautical information) accurately conveys the missioncritical data. The apparatus, systems, methods, techniques and articlesdescribed herein may provide assurances that an uncertified displayaccurately conveys mission critical data by verifying the integrity,continuity, and availability (ICA) of the mission critical datadisplayed on the uncertified display. Loss of accuracy or ICA can beannunciated to operators (e.g., a flight crew) of the uncertifieddisplay without reliance on the uncertified display to self-report theloss when displaying the mission critical data.

In the case of aeronautical applications, the apparatus, systems,methods, techniques and articles described herein may allow operators touse a PED to display aeronautical information. This may allow for a moreaffordable and quicker adoption of new avionics functionality. Thedescribed apparatus, systems, methods, techniques and articles may allowfor mission critical data such as that generated by multiple highintegrity applications (e.g. airborne situational awareness (AIRB) andvarious other CNS-ATM (Communications Navigation and Surveillance—AirTraffic Management) applications such as flight deck interval management(FIM) or air traffic control controller/pilot data link communication(CPDLC), SURF (Surface Surveillance application that includes an airportmoving map with traffic superimposed), and others) to be displayed onuncertified displays. At the same time, the described apparatus,systems, methods, techniques and articles can allow data from lowerintegrity applications, such as maps and charts, to be displayed on theuncertified displays without changes to the applications or equipmentinstallation.

A technical benefit of this approach is the ability to add highintegrity applications to an aircraft that is already using lowintegrity devices (off-the-shelf tablets or other personal electronicdevices) or would like to add these applications without the added costof installing a class 3 EFB or impacting the existing high integritydisplay and control systems.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an example system 100 that allows anuncertified display system, such as a PED, to meet typical avionicsrequirements for the monitoring of ICA. The example system 100 includesan application server 102 and a mounting adapter 104 configured to mounta PED 106 (having a PED display) in an aircraft flight deck or cockpit.

The example application server 102 includes at least one processor and acomputer-readable storage device or media encoded with programminginstructions for configuring the at least one processor. The exampleapplication server 102 is positioned in an aircraft. The exampleapplication server 102 is a fully certified avionics box that hosts andexecutes one or more high integrity avionics application modules 108.The high integrity avionics application modules 108 are configured togenerate mission critical data (e.g., critical aeronautical information)for display on a cockpit display. The example application server 102 isconfigured to transmit the generated critical aeronautical informationto an uncertified cockpit display (e.g., the PED 106) for display (e.g.,on the PED display).

The example application server 102 also includes a data integrity module112 that is configured to monitor the image displayed on an uncertifiedcockpit display when critical aeronautical information is transmittedfrom a high integrity avionics application module 108 to the uncertifiedcockpit display device (e.g., PED 106) to determine whether a problemexists with the display of the mission critical data on the uncertifieddisplay device. The example data integrity module 112 is configured todetermine whether a problem exists with the display of the missioncritical data on the uncertified display device 106 by verifying theintegrity, continuity, and availability (ICA) of the mission criticaldata displayed on the uncertified display device 106. The example dataintegrity module 112 is also configured to cause the annunciation of amessage indicating that a problem exists with the display of missioncritical data on the uncertified display device 106, when it determinesthat a problem indeed exists.

The mounting adapter 104 is configured to mount an uncertified displaydevice 106 in an aircraft cockpit for use by a flight crew so that theuncertified display device 106 may display critical or non-criticalaeronautical information to the flight crew. When the uncertifieddisplay device 106 comprises a tablet computer, the mounting adapter 104may include a clamshell shape to fully enclose the tablet computer 106.

The example uncertified display device 106 may comprise a PED (such as atablet computer, a smartphone, or some other device), which includes atleast one processor and computer readable media, and is configured tohost and execute one or more application programs such as a specializedavionics display application 110. The example specialized avionicsdisplay application 110 is configured to display critical aeronauticalinformation received by the PED 106 from the application server 102.

The example mounting adapter 104 further includes an adapter controller114. The example controller 114 includes at least one processor andcomputer readable media. In other embodiments, the adapter controller114 may not include a processor. The example controller 114 isconfigured (for example by programming instructions) to transmit imagesof the display on the uncertified display device 106 to the dataintegrity module 112 and to activate the annunciation of a messageindicating that a problem exists with the display of mission criticaldata on the uncertified display device 106, when the data integritymodule 112 determines that a problem exists.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example data integrity module 202in a server 200 wherein the example data integrity module provides a wayto display critical aeronautical information on an aircraft display thatis not certified for displaying critical aeronautical information. Theexample data integrity module includes a validation module 204 and anannunciator module 206. All or parts of the example data integritymodule may be incorporated in an application module (e.g., applicationmodule 108 from FIG. 1) or separate from the application module.

The validation module 204 is configured to compare source data 201(e.g., critical aeronautical information) received by the data integritymodule 202 from a high integrity avionics application (e.g., highintegrity avionics application module 108 from FIG. 1) to validationdata 203 (which includes PED image information) received by the dataintegrity module 202 from a monitoring adapter (e.g., mounting adapter104 from FIG. 1). The validation module 204 is configured to compare thesource data 201 to the validation data 203 to determine whether aproblem exists with the display of mission critical data on theuncertified display device (e.g., PED 106 from FIG. 1). The examplevalidation module 204 is configured to determine whether a problemexists with the display of mission critical data on the uncertifieddisplay device (e.g., PED 106) by verifying the ICA of the missioncritical data displayed on the uncertified display device (e.g., PED106).

The annunciator module 206 is configured to communicate an annunciationmessage 205 (e.g. a loss of ICA) to the mounting adapter (e.g., mountingadapter 104 from FIG. 1) that instructs the mounting adapter toannunciate a message that indicating that a problem exists with thedisplay of mission critical data on the uncertified display device, whenthe validation module 204 determines that a problem does exist with thedisplay of the mission critical data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting a simplified perspective view of anexample mounting adapter 304. The example mounting adapter 304incorporates a clamshell design configured to mechanically capture aPED/tablet 306 and mount the mounting adapter 304 and PED 306combination (i.e., the display assembly) in the aircraft flight deck orcockpit.

The example mounting adapter 304 includes a base or back 314 and a lid,cover, or front 316. The example base or back 314 is configured to beslightly larger than the outline of the tablet 306 to be mounted and mayhave threaded mounting bosses on the back to facilitate installation ofthe mounting adapter 304 in the aircraft. The example base 314 may alsohost multiple electrical wiring necessary to provide power and dataexchange with the server 302.

The example mounting adapter 304 is also configured with a lid 316 thatmay be closed over the top of the tablet 306 to fully enclose the tablet306 within the mounting adapter 304. The example lid 316 includes abezel 318, a surface 320 (e.g., an optically and capacitivelytransparent film), an optical imaging device 322 (e.g., a camera), andan actuation source 324 (e.g., optically emissive devices).

The example bezel 318 is attached to the base 314 by hinges (not shown)or other mechanical means and closes around the tablet 306 tomechanically capture the tablet 306. The example bezel 318 also hoststhe optically and capacitively transparent film 320, the optical imagingdevice 322, and the optically emissive devices 324.

The example surface 320 is attached to the bezel 318 in a way thatprovides it physical contact with the tablet display when the lid 316 isclosed to allow for normal touch-gesture control and display action ofthe tablet 306. Further, the example surface 320 has special propertiessuch as an actuatable covering 328 (e.g., a special coating) withapplied or embedded nanoparticles which are optically active in thepresence of an excitation source such as electrical voltage or currentor coincident optical or near-optical radiation (such as ultravioletlight). Upon application of the appropriate excitation signal, thecovering 328 changes state from normally optically transparent tooptically emissive or opaque in a way that is easily visible to anoperator in multiple lighting conditions encountered on a flight deck.

An imaging device 322, such as a small camera (e.g., a camera similar toone that might be included in a smart phone), can be mounted or embeddedon/in the bezel 318 of the lid 316 and aimed in a manner to provide formaximum view of the tablet display. More than one imaging device 322 maybe used or a corrective lens (not shown) may be applied to compensatefor the extremely oblique viewing angle the imaging device 322 may havewith the tablet's display. The viewing angle of the imaging device(s)322 may be enhanced or augmented by the use of lenses to optimize theimage quality.

An actuation source 324, such as optically emissive devices (e.g., LEDs(light-emitting diodes) operating in a predominantly non-visible lightband) may be located on the bezel and trained on the cover film 320 toilluminate the film's coating and activate its optical qualities. TheLEDs, in some embodiments, may produce light in the UV-A band (320-425nm) and, in some embodiments, may produce light at 385 nm for the colorred. Other optically reactive technology, such as MEMS(Microelectromechanical systems) scanners and laser diodes, mayalternatively be located on the bezel and trained on the cover film 320to illuminate the film's coating and activate its optical qualities.Alternatively, if the actuatable covering 328 can be activated by anelectrical signal, then the optically emissive devices 324, MEMSscanners, and laser diodes would not be needed in the bezel.

The example mounting adapter 304 further includes an adapter controller(not shown). The adapter controller is configured to transmit imagesfrom the display on the PED 306 to an application server (e.g., server102 from FIG. 1), receive messages from the server indicating that aproblem exists with the display of mission critical data on the tabletdisplay (e.g. a loss of ICA), and cause the actuation source 324 toactuate the covering 328 to annunciate a message indicating that aproblem exists with the display of mission critical data on the tabletdisplay, when the server determines that a problem exists with thedisplay of the mission critical data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an example adapter controller 402 ina mounting adapter 400. The example adapter controller includes amonitoring module 404 and an annunciation module 406. The exampleadapter controller 402 includes at least one processor and acomputer-readable storage device or media encoded with programminginstructions for configuring the controller. The processor may be anycustom-made or commercially available processor, a central processingunit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), anauxiliary processor among several processors associated with thecontroller, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of amicrochip or chip set), any combination thereof, or generally any devicefor executing instructions. The computer readable storage device ormedia may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory(ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), forexample. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used tostore various operating variables while the processor is powered down.The computer-readable storage device or media may be implemented usingany of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmableread-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electricallyerasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical,or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of whichrepresent executable programming instructions, used by the controller.In other embodiments, the adapter controller 402 may not include aprocessor.

The example monitoring module 404 is configured to retrieve an image 401of the PED display from an imaging sensor (e.g., imaging sensor fromimaging device 322 from FIG. 3) and transmit validation data 403 (whichincludes image information from the PED display) to an applicationserver (e.g., server 102 from FIG. 1). The example annunciation module406 is configured to receive an annunciation message 405 from the serverindicating that a problem exists with the display of mission criticaldata on the PED display (e.g. a loss of ICA), and cause an actuationsource (e.g., actuation source 324 from FIG. 3) to actuate the covering328 to annunciate a message indicating that a problem exists with thedisplay of mission critical data on the PED display, when the serverdetermines that a problem exists with the display of the missioncritical data.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the example system 100 may function asfollows. An avionics application 108 such as a CDTI may execute on theserver 102 while an avionics display application 110 executes on thetablet 106 or 306. The tablet 106 or 306 is enclosed in the mountingadapter 104 or 304 which is mounted on the flight deck in a suitablelocation (e.g., on the outboard side of the crew's seats). The mountingadapter 104 or 304 may be connected to the server 102 by several buswires, such as a bi-directional data bus which allows for informationexchanges between the tablet 106 or 306 and the server 102 (and perhapssupplies power to the tablet), a bus to carry video information from theimaging device 322 to the server 102, and a signal or power bus from theserver 102 to the actuation source 324. Alternatively, the mountingadapter 104 or 304 may be wirelessly connected to the server 102. Themounting adapter 104 or 304 may be additionally differentiated fromcommercially available tablet cases in that it may be qualified foraviation use by providing mechanical and electrical protection for thetablet 106 or 306 and the aircraft by being qualified according to RTCADO-160(x).

The example system 100 can allow uncertified display devices such asPEDs/tablets 106 or 306 to display critical aeronautical information byperforming two functions: ICA monitoring and providing crew annunciationof non-nominal ICA status.

ICA monitoring may be accomplished in two layers as follows. Theavionics application 108 executing on the server will determine whatinformation/images need to be displayed on the tablet 106 and willencode (e.g., using HTML5) and transmit that information to the avionicsdisplay application 110 executing on the tablet 106 or 306. In the firstlayer, prior to displaying any of this information, the avionics displayapplication 110 will decode the information to be displayed andre-encode it in a dis-similar protocol and “echo back” the informationto the server 102, which will compare the echo-back information with theinformation originally sent. Matching information will result in an“ack” (acknowledgement) from the server to the tablet while a mismatchwould generate a “no-ack” and a crew annunciation. This first layerprovides for monitoring the ICA to the avionics display application 110but does not provide for monitoring the link between the avionicsdisplay application 110 and the physical display.

In the second layer, the system may monitor the actual informationdisplayed on the screen via the image sensor 322 mounted on the bezel318. As an example, monitoring may include monitoring all aspects of thedisplay (color and location of every pixel) or using a sampling schemewhere the probability of detecting loss of ICA is equivalent or betterto the requirements of the Hazard Classification of the application.Thus, the monitoring rigor can be tailored to the criticality of theapplication. Sampling schemes could be further simplified by usingspecific patterns like QR codes which are displayed for a fewmilliseconds (faster than the time it takes for the human eye toperceive) on the display and may be customized for optimalrecognizability by the image sensor 322 (e.g., a keystone shape). Thecodes could be randomly changed in content, location, and timing to addrobustness to the sampling scheme. In any case, the optical informationimaged by the image sensor 322 is sent back to the server 102 to enablethe software application 108 to compare the image detected to what itexpected to see based on what it sent to the PED 106 or 306 for display.If a loss of ICA is detected, the server 102/application 108 wouldactivate the appropriate annunciation.

If the server 102/application 108 determines that there has been a lossof ICA, it can activate an annunciation by asserting the appropriateelectrical signal on the output bus to activate the coating on the coverfilm 320 of the tablet mounting adapter 104. As an example, theannunciation might simply put a red ‘X’ 332 over the display if afailure was detected. An ‘X’ character could be coated onto the coverfilm 320. Other more sophisticated (but fixed) imagery or text could(also or alternatively) be coated onto the cover film including one ormore textual failure messages. In addition, a fail-condition may alsoresult in the sending of display information to an alternate locationsuch as a different tablet.

Annunciation may be accomplished as follows. The film 320 and coating328 provides the overall system with the ability to annunciate fixed orvariable information to the crew as encoded in the coating 328 or otheroptically reactive elements. Signal inputs from the server 102 may beused to activate the optical coating 328. The activation may beelectrical, similar to the way an LCD is activated, by the applicationof a voltage across the breadth of the coating.

The activation may also be accomplished by illuminating the coating witha selective bandwidth of emitted light. In this example, light emittingelements such as discrete LEDs may be designed into the bezel of the lidand aimed toward the coating on the film. The LEDs would be energized bya signal or signals from the server and would then illuminate thecoating in a flood pattern. The coating would be activated by theillumination provided by the LEDs and would change state to be clearlyvisible to the crew. The spectrum of light required to activate thecoating would be selected to use light not typically found on flightdecks either from natural or artificial light to avoid un-commandedactivation of the coating.

An alternate implementation may use illumination devices such as laserdiodes wherein the laser light is directed to specifically intendedlocations by means of providing coordinates from the server to a MEMSScanner which would direct the excitation light to those intendedlocations on the cover film. This technique may employ a stroke orraster scan pattern which allows characters or images to be displayed onthe cover film.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting a perspective view of an example displayintegrity system 500 configured for use in a mounting adapter, such asthe example mounting adapter 304, to facilitate monitoring a PED displaythat displays mission critical information and annunciating a messageindicating a problem with the display when a problem is detected. Theexample display integrity system 500 includes a transparent surface (orscreen) 502 that is configured to overlay the display surface of a PEDwhen the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter. The example transparentsurface 502 can be laminated onto the display surface of the PED displaydirectly, or may be fixed in the mounting adaptor in a manner thatallows the transparent surface 502 to overlay the display surface of thePED display when the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter. Forexample, when the mounting adapter is in a clamshell configuration andwhen the clamshell is closed with the PED mounted inside, the exampletransparent surface 502, which can be made part of the top cover of theclamshell structure, can be positioned in intimate contact with the PEDdisplay surface.

The example transparent surface 502 is configured with hightransmittance (e.g., at a minimum >60%, but typically >75%) in thevisible wavelength range (when inactive). The example transparentsurface 502 is configured with a transmittance that is sufficient toallow the PED display to be visible in lighting conditions on a flightdeck.

The example transparent surface 502 is configured to allow touchscreengestures on the PED display. The example transparent surface 502 isconfigured to not interfere with the capacitive (PCAP) touch screenoperation of the PED. The example transparent surface 502 is alsoconfigured to support gloved touch interaction with the PED.

The example transparent surface 502 includes one or more regionsembedded with one or more coating layers of fluorescent phosphornanoparticles that when activated with a select excitation wavelengthare configured to emit visible light. The example transparent surface502 can be configured via the arrangement of regions and coating layersof fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles to emit light in one or morecolors. As an example, a single region and layer of fluorescent phosphornanoparticles on the example transparent surface 502 may allow theexample transparent surface, when active (e.g., “on”), to provide amonochrome display (e.g., a red or blue display). In another example, asingle region with multiple coating layers may allow the exampletransparent surface, when active, to provide a display in multiplecolors (e.g., red and blue or red, green and blue). The use of multiplecoating layers may allow the example transparent surface 502 to providea display in secondary display colors such as cyan and yellow. Theexample transparent surface 502, when inactive, is configured to notdegrade the image quality (e.g., color, resolution, clarity and otherreadability attributes) of the PED display.

In the illustrated example, the example transparent surface 502 isembedded with fluorescent red emitting phosphor nanoparticles. When aselect excitation wavelength 504, for example in the UVA band (e.g., 405nm), from a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter is directedat the example transparent surface 502, the fluorescent red emittingphosphor nanoparticles may become active and can cause emissions 506 inthe red region of the spectrum (centered, for example, around 605 nm) atthe corresponding region of the transparent surface 502 embedded withfluorescent red emitting phosphor nanoparticles. The emissions 506 fromthe example fluorescent nanoparticles are Lambertian, which can providean excellent viewing angle, and can provide a very fast turn-on time(e.g., <0.1 msec) providing excellent image quality similar to an OLEDdisplay.

FIG. 6A is a diagram depicting a plan view of an example transparentsurface (or screen) 602 and FIG. 6B is a diagram depicting across-sectional view of the example transparent surface 602. The exampletransparent surface 602 is configured, when active, to display staticsymbology, such as a red ‘X’ 604, to annunciate the loss of integrityand availability. The example transparent surface 602 is alsoconfigured, when active, to display fixed text 606 for annunciation. Thesymbology 604 and text 606 are made visible by emissions fromfluorescent phosphor nanoparticles that are contained in coating layerson the transparent surface 602. The coating layers are positioned inregions in a manner that allows the display of the symbology 604 andtext 606 when the fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles are activated. Thetransparent surface 602 may be configured to display a number ofdifferent static symbologies (among a preselected set of staticsymbologies) based on the arrangement of regions and coating layerscontaining fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles and the wavelengths usedto activate the fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles in the coatinglayers.

The display functionality is enabled by optically exciting regions ofthe transparent surface 602 embedded with coating layers containingfluorescent phosphor nanoparticles with a select excitation wavelength,to emit visible light with a select spectrum (e.g., red or blue lightspectrum) from the corresponding regions of excitation. The embeddedfluorescent nanoparticles are tuned for the desired visible emissionwavelengths (e.g., red, green or blue) using selected excitationwavelengths in a predominantly non-visible spectral band (e.g., withwavelengths in the range of 320 nm to 425 nm). For example, anexcitation wavelength of 405 nm (in the UVA band), from an LED orsimilar source may be selected to emit red color or blue color lightdepending on the type of fluorescent nanoparticles embedded on thesurface of the transparent screen 602.

The transparent screen 602 may be printed (or coated using a standardcoating technique) with a fluorescent nanoparticle phosphor layer in apattern that results in the display of desired symbology, such as a redX and text (e.g., FAIL) as illustrated in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram depicting an example lighting system 702 anda cross-sectional view of an example transparent screen 704 in anexample display integrity system 700. The example lighting system 702 isconfigured to illuminate the example transparent screen 704 (e.g., glassor plastic substrate) with light in an excitation wavelength (e.g., 405nm). The example lighting system 702 includes a lighting source 706,such as an LED or laser diode, a light shaping/guiding diffuser 708, anda direction turning optic 710. The lighting source 706 is configured toemit light (e.g., predominantly non-visible light, such as withwavelengths in the range of 320 nm to 425 nm) in the excitationwavelength when activated to illuminate the transparent screen 704 andits regions of patterned phosphor nanoparticle coating 705. The lightguiding diffuser 708 is configured to collect and homogenize the lightemitted by the lighting source and direct the collected light towardsthe direction turning optic 710. The direction turning optic 710 (e.g.,light turning film or light deflecting film) is configured to direct thelight to illuminate regions of the transparent screen 704. In thisexample, the direction turning optic 710 is configured to direct thelight to uniformly illuminate substantially the entire outer surface ofthe transparent screen 704. The example lighting source 706, lightguiding diffuser 708, and direction turning optic 710 can be housed inthe mounting adaptor and incorporated into the mounting adaptor, forexample, at multiple edges of the clamshell housing of mounting adapter304 to increase luminance and uniformity.

FIG. 7B is a diagram depicting a perspective view of another examplelighting system 720 that may be used in an example display integritysystem. The example lighting system 720 includes a lighting source 722that is configured to emit a shaped excitation beam 724 configured tocause a uniformly coated region to display predetermined symbology inthe shape of the shaped beam. In this example, the excitation wavelength724 is shaped to have an X-cross-section (the annunciation symbology).The excitation wavelength, however, may be shaped to form otherannunciation symbology including one or more words. The illuminationsource, in this example, comprises a laser diode that includes a laserthat is shaped to have an X-cross section using cylindrical lenses orother appropriate optics. The illumination source, in another example,however, may comprise an LED (e.g., collimated LED) or other opticalelements to form the annunciation symbology. When the example lightingsystem 720 is used, an example transparent screen 704 may include aregion that occupies a substantial portion of the transparent screen andthat is uniformly coated with one or more coating layers.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an example imaging device 802 in anexample display integrity system 800 mounted to an example mountingadapter 804 via a mounting post 805. The imaging device 802 (e.g., acamera) captures the image on the PED 806 for transmission to a server(e.g., server 102) that transmitted the image to be displayed on the PED806 wherein the server can compare the detected image with the expectedimage for integrity checking and annunciation. The example imagingdevice 802 is mounted on a side of the mounting adapter 804 in anunobtrusive way and is configured to not interfere with PED operations.Because the imaging device 802 captures the image displayed on the PED,off-axis, the image may need to be distortion compensated prior tocomparing it with what the expected image. The distortion compensationmay be performed by the example imaging device 802 (e.g., by themonitoring module 404 in the adapter controller 402) prior totransmission of the image to a server (e.g., application server 102) forcomparison with the expected image or may be performed by the server. Atransparent screen 808 with a coating 810 is provided to annunciatefailures in ICA of certified information displayed on the PED. Thetransparent screen 808 may be enabled to display annunciation symbologywhen ICA is lost. Thus, the transparent screen 808 is not activatedduring normal operation of the overall system for certified aeronauticalapplications, while the imaging device 802 is constantly monitoring theintegrity of the data being displayed on the PED display.

FIG. 9A is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen 902, with overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coatings,for expanding the type of annunciation symbology that can be displayed.Depicted is a transparent screen 902 (e.g., glass or plastic substrate)with a first patterned nanoparticle coating 904 applied to a surface ofthe transparent screen 902 and a second patterned nanoparticle coating906 applied over the first patterned nanoparticle coating 904. Thisconfiguration may allow the transparent screen 902 to emit light in afirst color via the first patterned nanoparticle coating 904 whenactivated by a first select excitation wavelength, to emit light in asecond color via the second patterned nanoparticle coating 906 whenactivated by a second select excitation wavelength, and emit light in athird color via the first patterned nanoparticle coating 904 and thesecond patterned nanoparticle coating 906 when activated by acombination of the first select excitation wavelength and the secondselect excitation wavelength.

FIG. 9B is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparentscreen 912, with non-overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticlecoatings, for expanding the type of annunciation symbology that can bedisplayed. Depicted is a transparent screen 912 (e.g., glass or plasticsubstrate) with a first patterned nanoparticle coating 914 applied to afirst region on the surface of the transparent screen 912 and a secondpatterned nanoparticle coating 916 applied to a second region on thesurface of the transparent screen 912. This configuration may allow thetransparent screen 912 to emit light from the first region in a firstcolor via the first patterned nanoparticle coating 914 when activated bya first select excitation wavelength. This configuration may also allowthe transparent screen 912 to emit light from a second region in asecond color via the second patterned nanoparticle coating 916 whenactivated by a second select excitation wavelength. The first patternednanoparticle coating 914 may be used to annunciate a first symbologytype indicating a first type of problem, the second patternednanoparticle coating 916 may be used to annunciate a second symbologytype indicating a second type of problem, or the first patternednanoparticle coating 914 and the second patterned nanoparticle coating916 may be used together to annunciate symbology indicating a problem.For example, the first patterned nanoparticle coating 914 may be used toplace a red ‘X’ across the transparent screen 912 and the secondpatterned nanoparticle coating 916 may be used to place text (e.g.,FAIL) in a blue color on the transparent screen 912 as depicted in FIG.6A.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D illustrate various types of displayconfigurations that may be implemented with a transparent screen. FIG.9C is a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparent screen922 with a single fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coating 924. FIG. 9Dis a diagram depicting a cross-sectional view of a transparent screen932 with three overlapping fluorescent emitting nanoparticle coatings934, 936, 938.

The example display configuration of FIG. 9C illustrates that a singlelayer coating of the nanoparticle phosphors may be implemented to yielda single-color emission (e.g., red, green, blue, cyan, or others). Theexample display configurations of FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrates that adual layer coating of the nanoparticle phosphors may be implemented.FIG. 9B illustrates the use of non-overlapping coatings in differentcolors (e.g., red and blue, or other two-color combinations). FIG. 9Aillustrates the use of overlapping coatings for multiple colorcombinations (e.g., red and/or green and mixtures of red and green).FIG. 9D illustrates that a three-layer coating of the nanoparticlephosphors may be implemented to generate even more color combinations(e.g., red, green, blue, and various combinations of red, green, andblue).

Other display configurations may also be implemented. For example, atransparent screen may have different regions that are coated with acoating, and each region may have one or more overlapping coatings orspatially separated coatings. Different predetermined annunciationsymbologies can be activated by selectively activating a lighting sourcethat emits the appropriate excitation wavelength to cause theannunciation symbol to become visible. For example, a 405 nm emittingLED may be activated to excite a red color emission from the transparentscreen, or a 385 nm emitting LED may be activated to excite a greencolor emission from the transparent screen.

FIG. 10A is a diagram depicting a plan view of a transparent screen 1002(e.g., glass or plastic substrate), with a uniformly coated, fluorescentemitting nanoparticle layer 1004 embedded in the transparent screen1002. The fluorescent nanoparticle layer 1004 may be embedded, forexample, using standard industry techniques. This configuration mayallow the transparent screen 1002 to emit light in a specific color viathe embedded nanoparticle layer 1004 when activated by an appropriateexcitation wavelength. This configuration may be used with a lightingsource that provides a shaped excitation beam to illuminate a portion ofthe embedded nanoparticle layer 1004 with an appropriate excitationwavelength.

FIG. 10B is a diagram depicting a plan view of a transparent screen 1006(e.g., glass or plastic substrate), with a patterned, fluorescentemitting nanoparticle layer 1008 embedded in the transparent screen1006. The fluorescent nanoparticle layer 1008 may be embedded, forexample, using standard industry techniques. This configuration mayallow the transparent screen 1006 to emit light in a specific color viathe embedded nanoparticle coating 1008 when activated by an appropriateexcitation wavelength. This configuration may be used with a lightingsource that illuminates the entire transparent screen 1006 with anappropriate excitation wavelength.

Apparatus, systems, methods, techniques and articles are described for asystem that enables a low-cost, non-certified commercial PED to displaycertified aeronautical information such as airport moving maps (AMM),air traffic (CDTI), advanced weather radar information. Apparatus,systems, methods, techniques and articles are described for a systemthat may verify and annunciate the Integrity, Continuity andAvailability (ICA) of the non-certified, low-cost, commercial PED systemfor use in certified aeronautical applications.

In one embodiment, a display integrity system for use in a mountingadapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on anaircraft is disclosed. The display integrity system comprises atransparent surface configured to overlay the display surface of a PEDwhen the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter wherein the transparentsurface has a transmittance that is sufficient to allow the PED displayto be visible in lighting conditions on a flight deck. The transparentsurface includes one or more regions embedded with one or more coatinglayers that when activated with a select excitation wavelength areconfigured to emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating aproblem with an image displayed on the PED display. The displayintegrity system further comprises a lighting source housed in themounting adapter and configured to provide light in the selectexcitation wavelength when activated to illuminate the transparentsurface and an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter andconfigured to capture an image of the PED display for transmission to aserver that transmitted data for display on the PED display forperforming an integrity check of the displayed data and for activatingthe lighting source when a problem is detected with the image of the PEDdisplay.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of thefollowing features. The transparent surface may be fixed in the mountingadaptor. The transparent surface may be configured to be laminated onthe PED display. The transparent surface may have a transmittancegreater than 60% in the visible wavelength range when inactive. The oneor more coating layers may comprise one or more coating layers offluorescent phosphor nanoparticles. The display integrity system mayfurther comprise a direction turning optic attached to the mountingadaptor and configured to direct the light from the lighting source touniformly illuminate the one or more regions of the transparent surface.The display integrity system may further comprise a light guidingdiffuser housed in the mounting adapter and configured to collect thelight emitted by the lighting source and direct the collected light tothe direction turning optic. The one or more regions may be shaped tocause predetermined symbology to be displayed when the coating layersare activated to annunciate the message indicating a problem with animage displayed on the PED display. The predetermined symbology mayinclude the letter X. The predetermined symbology may include a word.The one or more regions may be configured to display predeterminedsymbology in one or more colors when activated. The one or more coatinglayers that when activated with a select excitation wavelength may beconfigured to emit visible light in a select spectrum. The one or moreregions may be configured to annunciate a message indicating the loss ofintegrity and availability when activated. The transparent surface maybe configured to allow touchscreen gestures on the PED display. Theintegrity check of the displayed data may include a comparison of theimage with the transmitted data. The lighting source may operate in apredominantly non-visible light band, with wavelengths in the range of320 nm to 425 nm. The lighting source may comprise an LED (lightemitting diode). The lighting source may comprise a laser diode. Thetransparent surface may include a region that occupies a substantialportion of the transparent surface and that is uniformly coated with oneor more coating layers. The lighting source may be configured to emit ashaped excitation beam configured to cause the uniformly coated regionto display predetermined symbology to annunciate the message indicatinga problem with an image displayed on the PED display. The lightingsource may comprise a laser diode that includes a laser that is shapedto have an X cross-section using cylindrical lenses or other appropriateoptics. The lighting source may include a collimated LED that isconfigured to emit a shaped excitation beam having an X cross-section.

In another embodiment, a method of providing a display integrity systemin a mounting adapter configured to mount a personal electronic device(PED) on an aircraft is described. The method comprises overlaying thedisplay surface of a PED display with a transparent surface when the PEDis mounted in the mounting adapter wherein the transparent surface has atransmittance that is sufficient to allow the PED display to be visiblein lighting conditions on a flight deck. The transparent surfaceincludes one or more regions embedded with one or more coating layersthat when activated with a select excitation wavelength are configuredto emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem withan image displayed on the PED display. The method further comprisescapturing, using an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter, animage of the PED display for transmission to a server that transmitteddata for display on the PED display for performing an integrity check ofthe displayed data and for causing the annunciation of a message when aproblem is detected with the image of the PED display. The methodfurther comprises receiving a message from the server to annunciate amessage indicating a problem with the image displayed on the PEDdisplay, activating a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter toprovide light in a select excitation wavelength responsive to receipt ofthe message, illuminating at least a portion of the transparent surfacewith the light in the select excitation wavelength from the lightingsource, activating a coating layer in the illuminated portion of thetransparent surface with the light in the select excitation wavelengthto emit visible light, and displaying predetermined symbology from thevisible light from the activated coating layer to annunciate the messageindicating a problem with the image displayed on the PED display.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of thefollowing features. Illuminating at least a portion of the transparentsurface may comprise uniformly illuminating the transparent surface withthe light from the lighting source using a direction turning opticattached to the mounting adaptor to annunciate the message. The one ormore regions may comprise a region that occupies a substantial portionof the transparent surface and that is uniformly coated with one or morecoating layers; and illuminating at least a portion of the transparentsurface may comprise emitting, from a lighting source, a shapedexcitation beam configured to cause the uniformly coated region todisplay predetermined symbology to annunciate the message indicating aproblem with an image displayed on the PED display. The lighting sourcemay include a laser that is shaped to have an X cross-section usingappropriate optics. The lighting source may include a collimated LEDthat is configured to emit a shaped excitation beam having an Xcross-section. The select excitation wavelength may be in apredominantly non-visible light band, for example, with wavelengths inthe range of 320 nm to 425 nm. Illuminating at least a portion of thetransparent surface may comprise collecting the light from the lightingsource and directing the collected light to the direction turning opticusing a light guiding diffuser housed in the mounting adapter.

In another embodiment, a display integrity system for use in a mountingadapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on anaircraft is described. The display integrity system comprises atransparent surface overlaid on the PED display wherein the transparentsurface has a transmittance when inactive that is sufficient to allowthe PED display to be visible in lighting conditions on a flight deckand is configured to allow touchscreen gestures on the PED display. Thetransparent surface includes one or more regions embedded with one ormore coating layers of fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles that whenactivated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emitvisible light with a select spectrum wherein the one or more regions areconfigured to display predetermined symbology to annunciate the loss ofintegrity and availability when activated. The display integrity systemfurther comprises an LED (light emitting diode) housed in the mountingadapter and configured to provide light in the excitation wavelength, alight guiding diffuser housed in the mounting adapter and configured tocollect the light emitted by the LED, a direction turning optic attachedto the mounting adapter and configured to direct the collected light touniformly illuminate the transparent surface, and an imaging devicemounted in the mounting adapter and configured to capture an image ofthe PED display for transmission to a server that transmitted data fordisplay on the PED display for performing an integrity check of thedisplayed data and for activating the lighting source when a problem isdetected with the image of the PED display.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Some ofthe embodiments and implementations are described above in terms offunctional and/or logical block components (or modules) and variousprocessing steps. However, it should be appreciated that such blockcomponents (or modules) may be realized by any number of hardware,software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specifiedfunctions. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits,and steps have been described above generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application,but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention. For example, anembodiment of a system or a component may employ various integratedcircuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carryout a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that embodiments described herein are merelyexemplary implementations.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in auser terminal.

In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and thelike may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from anotherentity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities or actions. Numericalordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. simply denotedifferent singles of a plurality and do not imply any order or sequenceunless specifically defined by the claim language. The sequence of thetext in any of the claims does not imply that process steps must beperformed in a temporal or logical order according to such sequenceunless it is specifically defined by the language of the claim. Theprocess steps may be interchanged in any order without departing fromthe scope of the invention as long as such an interchange does notcontradict the claim language and is not logically nonsensical.

Furthermore, depending on the context, words such as “connect” or“coupled to” used in describing a relationship between differentelements do not imply that a direct physical connection must be madebetween these elements. For example, two elements may be connected toeach other physically, electronically, logically, or in any othermanner, through one or more additional elements.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description of the invention, it should beappreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also beappreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments areonly examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability,or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoingdetailed description will provide those skilled in the art with aconvenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of theinvention. It is understood that various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements described in an exemplaryembodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display integrity system for use in a mountingadapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on anaircraft, the display integrity system comprising: a transparent surfaceconfigured to overlay the display surface of a PED when the PED ismounted in the mounting adapter, the transparent surface having atransmittance that is sufficient to allow the PED display to be visiblein lighting conditions on a flight deck, the transparent surfaceincluding one or more regions embedded with one or more coating layersthat when activated with a select excitation wavelength are configuredto emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem withan image displayed on the PED display; a lighting source housed in themounting adapter and configured to provide light in the selectexcitation wavelength when activated to illuminate the transparentsurface; and an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter andconfigured to capture an image of the PED display for transmission to aserver that transmitted data for display on the PED display forperforming an integrity check of the displayed data and for activatingthe lighting source when a problem is detected with the image of the PEDdisplay.
 2. The display integrity system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore coating layers comprise one or more coating layers of fluorescentphosphor nanoparticles.
 3. The display integrity system of claim 1,further comprising a direction turning optic attached to the mountingadaptor and configured to direct the light from the lighting source touniformly illuminate the one or more regions of the transparent surface.4. The display integrity system of claim 3, further comprising a lightguiding diffuser housed in the mounting adapter and configured tocollect the light emitted by the lighting source and direct thecollected light to the direction turning optic.
 5. The display integritysystem of claim 3, wherein the one or more regions are shaped to causepredetermined symbology to be displayed when the coating layers areactivated to annunciate the message indicating a problem with an imagedisplayed on the PED display.
 6. The display integrity system of claim1, wherein the transparent surface is configured to allow touchscreengestures on the PED display.
 7. The display integrity system of claim 1,wherein the integrity check of the displayed data includes a comparisonof the image with the transmitted data.
 8. The display integrity systemof claim 1, wherein the lighting source operates in a predominantlynon-visible light band, with wavelengths in the range of 320 nm to 425nm.
 9. The display integrity system of claim 8, wherein the lightingsource comprises an LED (light emitting diode).
 10. The displayintegrity system of claim 8, wherein the lighting source comprises alaser diode.
 11. The display integrity system of claim 1, wherein thetransparent surface includes a region that occupies a substantialportion of the transparent surface and that is uniformly coated with oneor more coating layers.
 12. The display integrity system of claim 11,wherein the lighting source is configured to emit a shaped excitationbeam configured to cause the uniformly coated region to displaypredetermined symbology to annunciate the message indicating a problemwith an image displayed on the PED display.
 13. The display integritysystem of claim 12, wherein: the predetermined symbology comprises theletter X; and the lighting source comprises a laser diode that includesa laser that is shaped to have an X cross-section using cylindricallenses or other appropriate optics.
 14. A method of providing a displayintegrity system in a mounting adapter configured to mount a personalelectronic device (PED) on an aircraft, the method comprising:overlaying the display surface of a PED display with a transparentsurface when the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter, the transparentsurface having a transmittance that is sufficient to allow the PEDdisplay to be visible in lighting conditions on a flight deck, thetransparent surface including one or more regions embedded with one ormore coating layers that when activated with a select excitationwavelength are configured to emit visible light to annunciate a messageindicating a problem with an image displayed on the PED display;capturing, using an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter, animage of the PED display for transmission to a server that transmitteddata for display on the PED display for performing an integrity check ofthe displayed data and for causing the annunciation of a message when aproblem is detected with the image of the PED display; receiving amessage from the server to annunciate a message indicating a problemwith the image displayed on the PED display; activating a lightingsource housed in the mounting adapter to provide light in a selectexcitation wavelength responsive to receipt of the message; illuminatingat least a portion of the transparent surface with the light in theselect excitation wavelength from the lighting source; activating acoating layer in the illuminated portion of the transparent surface withthe light in the select excitation wavelength to emit visible light; anddisplaying predetermined symbology from the visible light from theactivated coating layer to annunciate the message indicating a problemwith the image displayed on the PED display.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein illuminating at least a portion of the transparent surfacecomprises uniformly illuminating the transparent surface with the lightfrom the lighting source using a direction turning optic attached to themounting adaptor to annunciate the message.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein: the one or more regions comprises a region that occupies asubstantial portion of the transparent surface and that is uniformlycoated with one or more coating layers; and illuminating at least aportion of the transparent surface comprises emitting, from a lightingsource, a shaped excitation beam configured to cause the uniformlycoated region to display predetermined symbology to annunciate themessage indicating a problem with an image displayed on the PED display.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lighting source includes a laserthat is shaped to have an X cross-section using appropriate optics. 18.The method of claim 16, wherein the lighting source includes acollimated LED that is configured to emit a shaped excitation beamhaving an X cross-section.
 19. The method of claim 14, whereinilluminating at least a portion of the transparent surface comprisescollecting the light from the lighting source and directing thecollected light to the direction turning optic using a light guidingdiffuser housed in the mounting adapter.
 20. A display integrity systemfor use in a mounting adapter configured to mount a personal electronicdevice (PED) on an aircraft, the display integrity system comprising: atransparent surface overlaid on the PED display, the transparent surfacehaving a transmittance when inactive that is sufficient to allow the PEDdisplay to be visible in lighting conditions on a flight deck andconfigured to allow touchscreen gestures on the PED display, thetransparent surface including one or more regions embedded with one ormore coating layers of fluorescent phosphor nanoparticles that whenactivated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emitvisible light with a select spectrum, the one or more regions configuredto display predetermined symbology to annunciate the loss of integrityand availability when activated; an LED (light emitting diode) housed inthe mounting adapter and configured to provide light in the excitationwavelength; a light guiding diffuser housed in the mounting adapter andconfigured to collect the light emitted by the LED; a direction turningoptic attached to the mounting adapter and configured to direct thecollected light to uniformly illuminate the transparent surface; and animaging device mounted in the mounting adapter and configured to capturean image of the PED display for transmission to a server thattransmitted data for display on the PED display for performing anintegrity check of the displayed data and for activating the lightingsource when a problem is detected with the image of the PED display.